Police Oversight - Teaching Resources

Students might consider the role of police in society, what
rules govern their actions, why some fail to live up to those rules and the
consequences of such behaviours. This provides an opportunity to review how
regulations governing police conduct are created - through legislative process
and how the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has impacted police action.
It is important to note that the increased attention to individual rights
outlined in the Charter seems to have diminished the power of the police to
fight crime, but to also note that the terms requiring officers of the law to
exercise more care as they enforce the law has ensured that people (even those
suspected of committing a crime) have rights that are entitled to protection.

After reading the
Backgrounder divide the students into groups and have each group research one
of the case studies briefly mentioned at the beginning of the article. Have each group review the facts for the
class and then lead a discussion on whether or not they are satisfied with the
outcome of the official investigation into the case. Each group should consider
what else might have been done to make the process fairer, both to the victims
and the police officers involved. Students
might be encouraged to talk to a police officer or a person who has felt
victimized by police action. We live in a society where everyone is subject to
the law. While police officers and members of the court are authorized to
enforce the law, they too are bound by its constraints. When a person oversteps their authority,
there is a system that allows for an independent review. Maintaining that independence from both
public pressure and political influence is important. Students should consider the importance of
independence for decision makers who supervise those who enforce the laws.